Method of and machine for packaging goods



Nov. 2,1937. O E. FOCHAMBLESS I 7,5

METHOD: OF AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING GOODS Filed Dec, 12, 1 955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V7 (5 g I fave/2607".-

Nov. 2, 1937- E. F. CH AMBLESS METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PACKAGING GOODS Filed Dec. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y E s ZjTC'kambless e i if Nov, 1937- E. F. CHAMBLESS METHOD OF AND MACHINE FQR PACKAGING GOODS Filed Dec. 12. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 folded closed and sealed, and then, subsequently Patented Nov. 1937 UNITED (STATES PATENT OFFICE AND mom Fon. PACKAG- mo GOODS I Ersyl F. Ohambless, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Cracker Jack Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,020-

13 Claims. (Cl. 93-2) Myinvention relates to a method of and aptests that the sealing and water-proof character paratus for packaging goods. The particular apof the package are thus considerably improved, plication or use of the invention which I shall and the goods are preserved against the deleteridescribe hereinafter is to or for the production ous eflects of moisture, better than possible hereof a moisture-proof package for marketing poptofore in the art. corn or other confections which are very sus- Other objects and advantages and numerous ceptible to the deleterious effects of moisture. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to such particular but may be employed for the production of other packaged goods which are desirably protected against the I access of moisture until opened for consumption or other use.

In an eflort to provide a water-proof package of this sort, a flexible waxed or paraflined paper wrapper has been commonly employed. Where heat and pressure are applied to seal such a wrapper by the wax thereon, the desired seal is not obtained without applying additional wax. Heretofore in the art, this additional wax has been applied subsequently to the operation of sealing the package.

This scheme of applying the additional w after the foldable flap portions, for example, are folded and sealed, has the objection of putting the additional wax only on the external surfaces of the foldable flap portions of the wrapper. The folded and sealed condition of the flap portion prevents the additional wax from reaching the inner or underlying surfaces of the folded portion of the wrapper. This additional wax therefore does not seal and water-proof these inner or underlying surfaces of the folded portions, and, as a result, the wrapper is not sealed and water-proofed as eifectively as possible.

According to my invention, I wrap the goods in a waxed or paraffined paper wrapper. I then apply additional wax to a portion of the wrapper and preferably thoroughly over all inner surfaces of the flap portions before these flapportions are METHOD OF pear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic side view showing the step of sealing the inner wrapper or carton;

view showing the outer wrapper applied and the preferred process of partially folding the wrap;- per, then applying additional wax and heat to ing the fold and applying pressure to seal the wax and heat are applied;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view showing the wrapper after the partial folding of the foldable portion thereof and before the application of the additional wax and heat;

portion after the folding and sealing of the same has been completed; I

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of pressure means with an equalizing action for assuring proper sealing of-the low portions of the'folded wrapper;

Figure 6 is a view showing another form of pressure sealing means with an equalizing action;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary plan view showing another form of mechanism for apply wax to the open flaps of the inner carton; 7

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure '1; and

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view von the line 91-9 of Figure 8. to the application of this additional wax, I seal the flap portions of the wrapper to which the additional wax is applied. Where I refer to wax or parafline in the present specification and in the appended claims, I intend that these terms shall, in the broader aspects of the invention, comprehend these materials and any similar or equivalent materials.

The chief advantage in applying .the additional wax before completely folding and sealing the foldable flap portions of the wrapper lies in the ability thereby to'place the additional wax thoroughly over all inner or underlying surfaces of the foldable portions of the wrapper. I find by made ofstifl. paper board, and may be of the usual form, comprising an elongated rectangular body and the customaryend flaps 6 and I which are folded inwardly to enclose the contained goods. This inner carton may be coated with wax and heated and dried to remove any moisture, or it may be of any other suitable or preferred form.

The carton 5 is placed, on a belt or conveyor with the topor outer flap I turned down as shown in Figure 1. A wax tank. Ill, containing a body of melted wax II, is disposed beneath the belt Bin position to be raised to immerse the the'foldable portion, and subsequently complet-- portion of the wrapper ,to which the additional" Figure 4 is a similar view showing the foldable taken adaptations of the invention will more fully ap- Figure 2 is a more or less diagrammatic plan The inner wrapper or carton 5 is preferably downturned flap in the melted wax in the movement of the carton on the belt 8. The wax tank may be raised in any suitable manner, as, for example, by an arm |2 pivoted at l3 and having an end |4 underlying the tank l8 and a cam which, in its rotation, lifts the arm |2 upwardly about the pivot l3 and raises the tank l0. After the wax is applied to the downturned flap I, this flap is folded up and sealed by the wax thereon to the corresponding downturned opposite flap I which underlies the outer flap and, in tum, overlies the inturned end flaps. After both ends have been closed and sealed, the carton may pass between compression belts for cooling and completing the sealing.

After these operations of sealing the carton, the carton is wrapped in a flexible waxed or paraflined paper wrapper 2|! and transferred to the belt or conveyor 2| of the wrapping machine, preferably with the overlapping edges or seam 22 disposed downwardly. These overlapping edges 22 may be sealed by the wax thereon, as, for example, by the application of heat and pressure, or in any other suitable or preferred manner. The belt 2| travels in the direction indicated by the arrows 23.

The first step in the wrapping machine is partially to fold the ends of the wrapper 20, extending beyond the ends of the carton 5, by folding in the opposite ends of the extending portions of the wrapper to form the end folds 24. The package with these end folds 24 completed is shown in Figure 3.; The folds 24 are preferably formed in the movement .of the wrapped carton on the belt 2|. The folding means may be of any existing or preferred form.

Beyond the position at which the folds 24 are formed in'the movement of the belt 2|, means is provided for applying additional wax-thoroughly over all of the inner or underlying surfaces 25 (Figure 3) of the foldable portions of the wrapper and the adjacent end portion of the car- 26 is shaped .to correspond with the shapes of the unfolded top and bottom flap portions 21 and.

ton 5. The application of this additional wax may be performed in any suitable manner. Preferably a nozzle 26 is-provided at each of the opposite sides of'the belt 2|. Each of the nozzles to fit between these unfolded flap portions so that in the movement of the package on the belt these flap portions of the wrapper will pass over the tops and beneath the bottoms of the nozzles 26, as

temperature; Each of the inner walls 32 of the.

nozzles 26, which inner walls parallel the ends of the carton, and the top and bottom walls 33 and 34, respectively, of the nozzles, are provided with a multiplicity of apertures 35 through which the ,melted wax is forced or sprayed to form a uniform coat or film of wax overth inner surfaces of the top and bottom flaps 21 and over theends of the lwrapped carton. The melted wax may be forced 6r sprayed upon the surfaces in any suit- -able manner, as by a pressure tank connected to the wax supply conduit 29, this conduitbelng pro- I vided with a valve opened, for example, by a cam driven by the machine to spray the melted wax from the top, bottom, and inner end of each nozzle to coat the inner or underlying surfaces 25 and 25 thoroughly and uniformly.

Preferably, however, the melted wax is forced upon the surfaces 25 and 25 by small pistons 38 operating in the cylinders 28. These pistons are provided with suitable actuating mechanism 38 which operates the pistons at intervals properly timed with respect to the movement of the belt 2 If the package is of a different form, the ends of the nozzles 26 maybe correspondingly formed to spray the melted wax uniformly over all inner or underlying-surfaces of the wrapper and over the end of the inner container. The apertures 35 are preferably small enough to retain the wax when pressure is not applied. The conduits 29 may be provided with suitable valves. When these valves are open, the melted wax runs in and fills the nozzles 26 and the inner ends of the cylinders 26. Assuming that the piston 38 (Figure 2) is shown in its outermost position and that its inner end is positioned at the inner end of the cylinder 28 when thepiston is at its innermost position, then the amount of wax applied with each stroke of the piston will be equal to the volume of the inner end of the cylinder 28. If desired, means may be provided for adjusting the stroke of thepiston to vary the amount of wax applied with each stroke, and the cylinders 28 may be dimensioned to suit requirements.

Beyond the nozzles 26 in the direction of movement of the belt 2|, means is'provided for blowing blasts of hot air upon the inner surfaces of the top and bottom flaps 21 and upon the ends of the wrappedcarton. This hot air applying means preferably comprises a pair of nozzles 42, one at each of the opposite sides of the belt 2|.

zles 26, are shaped to fit between the top and hot- These nozzles 42, like the melted wax applying noz- I tom flaps 21 so that in the movement of the package with the belt 2| these flaps 21 will pass over the tops and beneath the bottoms'of the nozzles 42. The inner walls 43 of thenozzles 42 parallel the ends of the carton, and the top and bottom walls 44 and 45 are at least coextensive with the inner surfaces of the top and bottom flaps 21.

Each of the walls 43, 44 and 45 is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 46, and a hot air supply conduit 41 is connected to each nozzle vided with valve means 48- which may be operated by suitable cam means to blow hot air thoroughly over the inner surfaces of the flaps 21 and over theends of the wrapped carton when the carton is positioned between the nozzles 42 in its movement with the belt. The action of the machine may be intermittent, so that the wrzipped carton will pause "momentarily in the wax and hot air applying positions, and in any otherdesired position in its continuous movement through the machine.

The air supplied by the nozzles 42 is heated to a temperature which will heat the wax on the surfaces to which the air is applied suiiiciently to seal the ends of the wrapper by the wax thereon when the top and bottom flaps are folded to closed .position. There may be a cooling of the wax between the positions of wax and hot air These hot air supply conduits may be proapplication, or the operation may be so rapid the additional wax otherwise than by spraying.

it upon the desired surfaces as illustrated and described, and I contemplate, within the broader aspects of the invention, applying the heat in other manners than that shown anddescribed.

After the wrapped carton leaves its position between the nozzles 42, it is positioned between knife members 59 or other suitable means which operates to fold the top and bottom flaps 21 at the ends of the carton to closed position, one overlapping the other. When closed, these flaps 21 overlap the folded portions 24 and the ends of the wrapped carton, and are sealed effectively by the wax thereon to render the carton moisture-proof and preserve the contents of the carton against the deleterious effects of moisture.

The wax which I apply. in accordance with mypresent invention is preferably without moisture,

- and the usual wax on the inner carton and on the folded ends of the wrapped carton are pressed into snug contact until the wax is cooled and set to seal the folds. This is preferably accomplished by passing the wrapped carton between a pair of compression belts 52 which operate over pulleys 53 and along opposite sides of the belt 2|, with their inner runs at right-angles to the run of the belt 2! and in position to press the folded ends of the wrapper into snug contact. Blasts of air or other cooling or chilling means may be applied to the closed ends of thewrapper along the path of travel of the wrapped carton between the belts 52, whereby the wax may be cooled and set to seal the folds. Y

The belts 52 are preferably formed of rubber or other-flexible material which will accommodate itself to the high and low portions of thefolded ends of the wrapper. Belts of other material and, in fact, other pressure means are, however, contemplated within the broader aspects of the present invention.

In order to assure snug contact of the high and low portions of the folded ends of the wrapper, and particularly to-press the low portions into snug contact, I provide pressure means with yieldable equalizers. In Figure 2,-these pressiue and equalizing devices comprise arms 69 pivoted at 9|, one adjacent the inner run of each belt 52.

These arms 60 carry equalizer springs 62 positioned to engage the inner run of the-belt 52 and operable through the belt -to tamp or press, by

a series of light blows, the low portions of the.

folded ends of the wrapper intosnug contact as the wrapped carton travels along with the belt The arms 60 are held yieldingly in engagement with cams 63 by springs 64. The cams 63 are driven, for example, by the driving mechanism for the machine, and, with the springs 64,

, oscillate the arms 60 back and forth to produce the tamping or series of light blows upon the low portions of the wrapped end of the carton, as above described. This tapping of the low portions is much the same as would be produced manu- 'a1ly by a rapid series of light blows" with the fingers.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the wrapped package, with the ends folded closed is indicated at '10. One of thev compression belts is indicated at 1|, and the belt for moving the wrapped package through the machine is indicated at I2. In this case the pressure wheel and equalizer is in the form of a wheel I3 which rotates in the direction of the arrow. This wheel has a plurality of radially extending pins 14 carrying equalizer caps i5. Springs 15, disposed within the caps 15 and between the outer ends of the caps and the outer ends of the pins 14, press the caps yieldingly to their outermost positions. The wheel 13 rotates in the passage of the wrapped package through the machine,

and the spring-pressed equalizer caps engage thelow portions of the folded ends of the wrap: ping by a series of light blows to press these low portions into snug contact in much the same manner as the pressure and equalizing devices shown in Figure 2. b

The modified pressure and equalizing wheel shown in Figure 6 comprises a hub part having radial spokes 8| carrying a spring rim 82 of serpentine form. This spring rim 82 is adapted.

to operate upon the low portions of the folded ends of the wrapping in much the same manner as the pressure and equalizing devices shown in Figures 2 and 5.

Instead of applying Figure 1, these open flaps of the inner carton may be waxed by mechanism such as that shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9.

This alternative form of mechanism for waxing the open flaps of the inner carton comprises the wax to the open flaps of the inner carton by the mechanism shown in a wax tank 99 containing a body of melted wax 9| and disposed transversely beneath the belt 92 for moving the carton 93 inthe direction indicated by the arrow'94. The top or outer end flaps 95 of the carton are turned down as shown, and, in the movement of the carton, pass through wax receptacles 96, one disposed longitudinally at each of the opposite sides of the belt 92. The

downturned flaps 95 of the carton enter at the restricted inlets 91 of the reseptacles 96 and pass 7 out through the restricted outlets 98. Flap retainers are shown at 99.

A pump I09, having a screened inlet MI and driven, for example, from the driving mechanism of the machine by a pulley I02, is submerged in the body ofmelted wax 9|. The outlet of the pump I99 delivers melted wax throughconduits I93 which spray the melted wax at I04 over the opposite sides of the flaps 95in their passage through the receptacles 96. The inner and outer surfaces of the flaps 95 are thus covered or coated with films or, coats of wax prior to the closing and sealing of these flaps. The open ends of the receptacles 96 permit the excess wax sprayed in these receptacles to return to the wax tank 99.

It is to be understood that in packaging, the popcorn, confections, or other goods, in accordance with my present invention, I place or enclose the same in the inner wrapper or carton 5. Usually the carton 5, with the wrapper folded andsealed about the same, is enclosed in an outer wrapper which will protect the package finished in accordance with the present invention. This outer wrapper may be of paper, paper-board, regenerated cellulose, or other suitable material, and may be applied as suitable or desired.

I do not intend to be limited to the details shown and described, nor do I intend to limit my invention to the precise order of the stepsabove wrapper, spraying a film of additional wax on a portion of said wrapper, blowing a heating fluid on the portion of the wrapper upon which said additional wax is sprayed, and subsequently sealing said portion of the wrapper.

2. The method of packaging goods which consistsin wrapping the goods in a flexible waxed wrapper, spraying a film of additional wax on av portion of said wrapper, subsequently to the spraying of the additional wax on a portion of the wrapper blowing hot air on the portion of the wrapper upon which said additional wax is sprayed, and, subsequently to the spraying of the additional wax and the blowing of hot air on a portion of the wrapper, sealing said portion of the wrapper.

3. The method of packaging goods which consists in wrapping a package containing the goods wrapper extending beyond the goods, folding the ends of said extending portion to form foldable top and bottom flaps, applying a film tional wax and heat to the inner surface's of said top and bottom flaps and to the end of the package, and subsequently folding the top and bottom flaps closed and sealing the same.

4. The method of packaging goods which consists in wrapping a package containing the goods in a flexible waxed wrapper with a portion of the wrapper extending beyond the goods, folding the ends of said extending portion to form foidable top and bottom flaps, spraying a film of additional wax on the inner surfaces of said top and bottom flaps and on the end of the package, subsequently blowing hot air on the surfaces to which said film of additional wax is applied, and, subsequently to the application of said film of additional wax and said hot air.

folding the top and bottom fiaps closed and sealing the same.

5. The method of packaging goods which con-- ible waxed paper wrapper with a portion of the wrapper extending beyond the end of the carton, folding the ends of said extending portion to form foldable top and bottom fiaps, applying a film of additional wax and heat to the inner surfaces of said top and bottom flaps and to the end of the wrapped carton, and subsequently folding the top and bottom flaps closed and sealing the same.

6. In a packaging machine, a conveyor for moving packages enclosed. in a waxed wrapper having top and bottom flaps, a-nozzle along the path of movement of said conveyor and adapted to enter between said flaps with the top flap extending over and the bottom flap extending be neath the nozzle, said nozzle having a multiplicity of apertures in the top, bottom and end thereof, and means for spraying melted wax through the apertures in the top, bottom and end of said nozale and upon the inner surfaces of said top and bottom flaps and the end of the package.

7. In a packaging machine, a conveyor for moving packages enclosed in a waxed wrapper having top and bottom flaps, a" nomle along the path of movement of said conveyor and adapted to enter between said flaps with the top flap extending over and the bottom fiap extending beneath the nozzle, said nozzle having a multiplicity of apertures "in the top, bottom and end thereof, and means for blowing a heating fluid through the apertures in the top, bottom and end of said nozzle and upon the inner surfaces of said flaps and the end of the package.

8. In a packaging machine, a conveyor for moving goods enclosed in a waxed wrapper, means for folding and sealing the end of said wrapper,

the wrapper in the path of movement of said conveyor for pressing the folded ends of the wrapper into snug contact until the wax is cooled, and pressure means operable through said compression belt and having a yielding equalizer for pressing the low portionsof the folded end of the wrapper into snug contact.

9. ,The method of packaging goods, which consists in wrapping the goods in a flexible waxed wrapper with a portion of the wrapper extending beyond the goods, partially folding the extending portion of the wrapper to form an extending flap, applying a film of additional wax and heat to the inner surface of said flap, and subsequently folding said flap closed and sealing the same by the wax thereon.

10. The method ofpackaging goods which .consists in wrapping the goods in a flexible waxed wrapper with a portion of the wrapper extend-- ing beyond the goods, partially folding the extending portionof the wrapper, applying a film of additional wax and heat to the partially folded extending portion of the wrapper, and subsequently completing the folding of the extending portion of the wrapper to closed position, and sealing the same by the wax thereon.

11. The method of packaging goods which consists in wrapping the goods in a flexible waxed wrapper with a portion of the wrapper extending beyond'the goods, applying a film of additional wax and heat to the extending portion of the wrapper, and subsequently folding the extending portion of the wrapper to which the additional wax has been applied closed and sealing the same by the wax thereon.

12. -The method of packaging goods which consists in wrapping the goods in aflexible waxed wrapper, applying additional wax to a portion of said wrapper, subjecting the portion to which said additional wax is applied toa heating fluid to impart heat thereto, and, subsequently to the application of said additional wax and heat. applying pressure to seal the portion of the wrapper to which said additional wax and heat are applied.

13. The method of packaging goods, which consists in enclosing a package containing the goods in a waxed wrapper having top, bottom and side age.

men. P.

thereby completely sealing the ends of the pack- 

